Chance controlled game apparatus



June 22, 1954 H, STOVER 2,681,804

CHANCE CONTROLLED GAME APPARATUS Filed Sept. 22, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheehl 1 @@@GDQEGDGDGDGCQQG Gttorneg f 3mm-tor Howard L. Stover y 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H. L. STOVER CHANCE CONTROLLED GAME APPARATUS LBS C@ June 22, 1954 Filed sept. 22, 1952` lnnentox Howard L. Stover SLL/ @2.11

(Ittornegf @@Q@ @@@c W/ tions,` substantially on Patented June 22, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHANCE CONTROLLED GAME APPARATUS Howard L. Stover, Philadelphia, Pa. Application September 22, 1952, Serial No. 310,805

6 Claims.

This invention relates to educational games.

An important object of the invention is to provide an educational game which may be played by a child and an older person and is shown as adapted to teach the child to build words and associate the words with a suitable picture, preferably selected by the child. The older person does not compete with the child in building the words and the efforts of the older person neither aids nor hampers the child in word building. However, there is a decided chance element to the game, with this element shared equally by child and older person.

Another important object is to provide an educational game, which includes a child as a player, and embodies a game board, having spaces for word-spelling and other game pieces arranged in a dual-purpose manner.

Furthermore an important object is to provide an educational game which may have, as players, a childand an older person, with the game including a game board, a chance-controlled device, indicia-containing game pieces, some of which are for association with the chance-controlled device, and a member containing indicia (as a word) bearing a relationship to that upon some of the game pieces, and to guide the child to spell out and learn words and associate the words with picture indicia upon the member.`

Another important object is to provide a game including a chance-controlled device which, as the game progresses, is altered in order to continue the game and render it more interesting.

Furthermore, an object of the invention is to provide a game, including a game board which is especially constructed and arranged for use by a child and an older person.

Additionally, an object is to provide a game which is not complicated and may be readily understood by a child.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description of the invention, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this disclosure, and in which drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan of the game board. chance controlled device and means to removably retain an indicia-bearing member, shown in fragmentary elevation, and which is associated with the game pieces, shown in dashes.

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section, on an enlarged scale, substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, with a game piece shown in plane.

Figs. 3 and 4 arevertical longitudinal sectheir respective lines of Fig. I1.

Fig. 5 is a top plan of one of two like sets of game pieces.

Fig. 6 is a top plan of another set of game pieces.

Fig. '7 is a top plan of two examples of indiciabearing members adapted to be removably retained by the means shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the game apparatus comprises a game board A, game pieces B, indicia-bearing members or cards C for association with some of the game pieces, and a chance controlled device D.

The game board A is preferably a substantially nat structure which may be made up of three plies, consisting of a bottom ply I 0, uppermost ply Il and intermediate ply I2, secured together in any approved way, as by glue I2', to provide a preferably rectangular structure, which may be rounded at the corners and providing substantially parallel sides and substantially parallel ends. One end I3 may be termed the childfacing 'end and the other end I4, the older person facing end. The structure described may be mounted upon suitable supports, such as spacedapart feet I5, which may be of solid rubber, sponge rubber, or rubber suction cups, secured to the bottom ply I0 to extend downwardly therefrom with the larger ends of the legs facing downwardly and adapted to contact any suitable support.

The plies I0 and I! may be substantially rigid and be, for example, of hardened plastic, bre board or metal. I have discovered a novel material for the intermediate ply l2, consisting of a good tough grade of crinkled paper or lightweight corrugated board, providing an irregular surface such as embodying a plurality of resilient ribs I6. It is preferred that the color of this ply I2 be quite different from that of the upper face of the ply Il, to provide contrast. Green is suggested for the ply I2 and light yellow for the ply H.

Referring mainly to Figs. 1, 3 and 4, it will be seen that the uppermost ply Il is provided with a plurality of cut-outs, extending through the ply I I from its outer face Il to 'its under face IS and, with associated portions of the ply I2, providing a plurality of pockets or spaces I9, 20, 2| and 22.

By pressure gluing the three plies I0, I I and I2 together, the ply I2 will be flattened out, except where it forms the bottoms of the pockets or spaces I9, 20, 2| and 22.

Preferably, the pockets or spaces I9 are arranged in rows (as two rows) transversely of the board and next adjacent the end I3, and the rows may be separated by border lines 23, which may be printed, indented or etched. It is preferred that there be twenty-six pockets I9 corresponding to the number of letters of the English alphabet. The reasons for arranging Vthe pockets or spaces I9 as described are so that they will be close to therchild (as some of the pockets ofV longitudinally extending rows. would. be) and.

more readily seen and the game pieces extracted. Also, since they differ in arrangement over that of the pockets or spaces 2 I, the child will be apt to quickly recognize his end of the game board'A.

In the example shown, there are ve pocketsfZ arranged in a single row inwardly of the pockets I3 and enclosed by a box. 24, the lines ofwhich may be printed, indented or etched. The number of pockets 29. may vary but it has been discovered that live-letter words are desirable. The

spaces or pocketsV i9 and. ZIIare disposed in one Y defined space-containing. portion adjacent the end. I3.

The pockets or spaces ZI may be arranged in two parallel longitudinal rows adjacent the side edges of the board and there are, preferably, twenty-six pockets ZI. rl`he reasons for arranging the pockets 2| asdescribed iare two-fold. They are out of the way of the central area of the board, so that there will be ampleroom for the chance controlleddevice D in the center ofV Y Y the board andwithinreach of the child, and the corners 3B containing indicia, as a five-letter word 31, associated explanation 33, Vand associated illustration 39. The cards C are adapted to be slid into and out of the member holding means, guided by the edge portions 21. There may be any desired number of cards C, all being diil'erent asy to indicia 31"; 38.and 39.'v

The chance controlled device D may be any suitable one. For example, the spinning arrow means 4l) associated with certain indicia 4I and 42 and pockets 43, The arrow or index 44 may be mounted for easy rotation upon a truncated conical substantially vertical pivot post secured to the. board A to extend upwardly from the outer face I1 of the ply I I. The post 45 may be secured as by the screw 46. The indicia 4IY consists of spaced-apart lines radiating across the outer face i1 of the ply i I from, for example, the axial centerl of the post 45 to form areas 41, and the indicia 42 comprises delineationsv of circular areas or spaces 48 within each alternate area 41 and containing a different- Arabic numeral as 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. The pockets 43- may be exactly like the pockets 2i and are contained in the areas 41 not occupied by the indicia-42.

The game may be played by the child being given one set of game pieces B containing the indicia 3l' to forni one English alphabet, Yand the pack of cards C. The child* (who may be termed-a rst player) faces the edge I3. TheY olderperson (who may bev termed a-second player) Y retains the gaine pieces B of one complete alpha- The mouthsof all pockets may be rounded if desired.

Vsuitably mounted upon the ply II, to extend over a portion of its outer face' is means to removably retain a card or member, ,which may be Y longitudinal edge portions 21. Y It maybe secured tothe ply l!Y as by tacks 28; and be disposed in- Y wardly of the row of pockets 2i).

The ga epieces vB are preferably discs of any suitable materiaLhaving rounded edges 3Q. rheyslightly above the plane of the outer face of the ply I I,as inFig.2. Y

There are provided two Ysets of twenty-six each of game pieces containing the letters 3i of the VEnglish alphabet, one letter to a disc, as one of the two sets is shownin Fig. 5, anda third set of game pieces containing Arabic numerals, preferablydesignatedY by the reference character 32. For example, the numerals 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, as shown in Fig. 6; Y

Two examples ofV indicia bearing members or cards-Care shownin Fig. 7 and each may cornprise an elongated flat sheet 35 with rounded 'a metallic'or plastic sheet EShaVing-turned'cver a bet and 'the i'lve game pieces containingv the indioia 32. The older person faces the edge I4.

One set of the alphabet-containing game pieces B is arranged in the transversely extending pockets i9 and the other Vset in the-longitudinally-extending pockets 2i, andthe game pieces B, bearing-the indicia 32, will be arranged innurnerical sequence in the-space between the pockets Z2 and edges I4, as shown in dashes inY Fig. 1.

The child will then select a member C and slide it into the memberretaining means, whereuponn the older person selects, from the longitudinally-extencling pockets, the game pieces bearing the letters making up the indicia Siupon the card'C, and disposesvthern at random, in the pockets'43, as shown, by way of example, by dashes in Fig. l.

Thereupon Vthe child spins the arrow 44. If it stops at one of the ve indicia 3i on the game pieces B within thepocketsA 43, the child will transfer a game piece bearing'thaty one of the live indicia from the pocket IS to its correct position in a pocket 2i) which itoccupies in the spelled-outword. If the arrow stops in the area 41 occupied by any of the indicia 42, or in an area occupied. by` a` game piece containing indicium 3iA similar to that cfa game piece occupying av pocket 2U, the child stops dialing and the older'person thenV spins the arrow V44 and if it stops in anarea 41'occupied by an indicium 42, the older person places rthe appropriate gaine piece'B` bearing the Yproper indiciuin 32 in its numbered pocketv 22, but' if the arrow Stops in an area occupied by la pocket 43, or in an area occupiedby indicium 42 which indiciuin appears on a game piece already in a pocket 22, the child resumes spinning as before. If the arrow 44 stops directly over any indiciurn 4I, another spin Y of the arrow may be had. Y

The series of stepsin the gaine are completed Ywhen the child has .correctly lled all thepockets 20 or the older person, has lled all the pockets 22, whereupon the game pieces may be replaced as at the start and a new card C selected by the child.

As the steps progress, the older person may comment upon other aspects of the indicia 3l upon the card C, thus aiding the child in a better knowledge of the word.

In the event,l for economy, the struck out discs formed from the ply il are employed as game pieces B, after being suitably colored if desired and marked with suitable indicia, because of the ribs I6, these discs will be raised slightly above the plane of the outer face Il' of the ply i I, as in Fig. 2. In addition, the very slight resiliency of the ribs I6 enables the players to more readily tip the game pieces for extraction from the several pockets. In fact, they may be tipped up by placing the end of a iinger close to the edge of the game piece or a fingernail may be inserted between the wall of the pocket and game piece. Of course, if the game pieces B are not the struck out discs mentioned, it is desirable that their thickness be such that they will project slightly above the plane mentioned when they are disposed wthin the pockets.

Various changes may be made to the form of the invention herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. An educational game including a board ha ing a iirst space-containing portion, a second space-containing portion opposite the first portion, with the spaces of the first portion extending in substantially parallel rows in front or and to the left and right of a first player, and the spaces of the second portion extending in a nrst row in front of a second player, and extending in a second row toward and away from said second player and toward the iirst rows; two sets of gaine pieces, each game piece or" each set containing a different indicium from the indicium of any other of said game pieces of the set, and the indicia of the two sets being duplicates, the game pieces of one of said sets being constructed to be disposed upon the spaces of said second row, and the game pieces of the other set being constructed to be disposed upon the spaces of said parallel rows; a third set of game pieces bearing indicia differing from that of the indicia upon the other game pieces and with each game piece of said third set bearing a dii'- ferent indiciurn, said gaine pieces of said third set being constructed to be disposed upon the spaces of said iirst row, the number of spaces of said parallel rows being greater than the nurnber of game pieces of said other set; a chance `controlled device carried by said board including a plurality of spaces, some of the last-named spaces being constructed to accommodate selected game pieces of said second set, and the other of said spaces last-named bearing indicia corresponding to the indicia upon the game pieces of said third set; and a member, carried upon said board, having indicia thereon bearing a relationship to the indicia upon selected of the game pieces of said rst and second sets.

2. An educational game according to claim 1 characterized in that said game board has side and end edges, said parallel rows extend toward the side edges, said second row extends toward the end edges, and said member is elongated with its longitudinal axis substantially paralleling the longitudinal axes of said parallel rows.

3. An educational game according to claim 1 characterized in that said game board has side and end edges, said parallel rows extend toward the side edges, said second row extends toward the end edges, and said member is elongated with its longitudinal axis substantially paralleling the longitudinal axes of said parallel rows and is removably carried by said board.

4. An educational gaine including a board having end and side edges, a first space-containing portion, a second space-containing portion opposite the first portion, with the spaces of the first portion extending in substantially parallel rows in front or" and to the left and right of a iirst player and adjacent one of said end edges, and the spaces of the second portion extending in a first row in iront of a second player, and extending in two spaced-apart elongated parallel rows adjacent the side edges of said board, toward and away from said second player and toward the rst rows; two sets of game pieces, each gaine piece of each set containing a different indicium from the indicium of any other of said game pieces of the set, and the indicia of the two sets being duplicates, the game pieces of one of said sets being constructed to be disposed upon the spaces of said elongated parallel rows, and the game pieces of the other set being constructed to be disposed upon the spaces of the first-named parallel rows; a third set of game pieces bearing indicia differing from that of the indicia upon the other game pieces and with each game piece of said third set bearing a diierent indicium, said game pieces of f said third set being constructed to be disposed said board including a plurality of spaces, some of the last-named spaces being constructed to accommodate selected game pieces of said second set, and the other of said spaces last-named bearing indicia corresponding to the indicia w upon the game pieces or" said third set; and a member, carried upon said board, having indicia thereon bearing a relationship to the indicia upon selected of the game pieces of said first and second sets.

5. An educational game according to claim Il characterized in that said indicia upon said two sets consists of the letters of the English alpha-- bet with one letter to a game piece, the indicia upon the game pieces of the third set having Arabic numerals, one numeral to a game piece; and the indicia upon said member including a word consisting of letters of the English alphabet, and a pictorial representation of said word.

6. .an educational game according to claim 4 characterized in that said indicia upon said two sets consists of the letters of the English alphabet with one letter to a game piece, the indicia upon the game pieces of the third set having Arabic numerals, one numeral to a gaine piece, and the indicia upon said member including a word consisting of letters of the English alphabet.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PA'IENTS Number Name Date 1,595,285 Bevan Aug. 10, 1926 1,621,185 Bain 1 Mar. 15, 192'? 1,818,012 Smith Aug. 11, 1931 2,521,775 Brower Sept. 12, 1950 

